The thing is, never having liked the woman, I didn't take a very active interest in the titles she held. It's still quite incorrect of the media to call her Princess Diana though - that much I do know.

I once read that when Charles studied history, one of his tutors asked him to write a text about the question if it was right that queen Elizabeth I had queen Mary Stuart executed and the prince accepted to research the topic but refused to pass judgment. Because, as he said, it's not yet up to him to question a decision of a past monarch when he has yet to learn so much about the workings of a souverain. I guess William could be thinking the same...

That's really interesting, Jo. Thanks for posting that anecdote. I always wondered what it would be like to be a royal studying the history of your own ancestors in textbooks.

That isn't true as far as I know. She wasn't a Princess at all and she certainly wasn't considered a member of the Royal Family.

The Palace confirmed at the time of the divorce that Diana would remain a member of the royal family, continue to be accorded her former precedence on state and national occasions, and would retain her royal privileges, including her residence at Kensington Palace and use of The Queen's Flight.

She was addressed by the Palace as "The Princess" after the divorce and was granted a royal lozenge of a stylized D under a coronet by The Queen.

So, I think it's safe to say she continued to be regarded as a royal princess by the consent of The Sovereign.

The thing is, never having liked the woman, I didn't take a very active interest in the titles she held. It's still quite incorrect of the media to call her Princess Diana though - that much I do know.

It was incorrect, but tolerated by The Queen since she was the mother of a future king.

Diana, Princess of Wales...hmm, I would have thought the answer to be in the title.

No longer 'the' Princess of Wales, 'a' Princess of Wales. So its clear to me, that Diana was, and continued to observe, the distinction of a Princess.

Technically, Diana was no longer a princess of the UK and lost her rank as HRH with divorce because these were held only as the wife of Prince Charles. They arrived with her marriage and departed with divorce.

As a concession to her position as the mother of a future king, The Queen granted her privileges and status not held by a divorcee. This included being regarded as a princess, although downgraded by the loss of HRH.

It was incorrect, but tolerated by The Queen since she was the mother of a future king.

Well I dont think it was that the Queen tolerated it. It's just that we all tolerated it. Nobody pointed it out after the divorce that she wasn't Princess Di anymore. Of course when she died that cemented the nickname.

Technically, Diana was no longer a princess of the UK and lost her rank as HRH with divorce because these were held only as the wife of Prince Charles. They arrived with her marriage and departed with divorce.

As a concession to her position as the mother of a future king, The Queen granted her privileges and status not held by a divorcee. This included being regarded as a princess, although downgraded by the loss of HRH.

So again, my observation was correct in that Diana, Princess of Wales was accorded the title (lesser) of a Princess after the desertion of her marriage

Diana, The Princess of Wales was born - Lady Diana Spencer and she became HRH Princess Diana, The Princess of Wales and when she divoriced she became Diana,The Princess of Wales and I think when HRH Prince William marries Kate Middleton, and when they become TRH The Prince and Princess of Wales his father becomes King. I think Diana, Princess of Wales is going have to be Lady Diana Spencer, The Late Princess of Wales.

Well I dont think it was that the Queen tolerated it. It's just that we all tolerated it. Nobody pointed it out after the divorce that she wasn't Princess Di anymore. Of course when she died that cemented the nickname.

Well, the Palace also often referred to her as "Princess Diana" and I believe at one point someone did ask if that was correct and was told by a spokesman that it was acceptable.

Diana, The Princess of Wales was born - Lady Diana Spencer and she became HRH Princess Diana, The Princess of Wales and when she divoriced she became Diana,The Princess of Wales and I think when HRH Prince William marries Kate Middleton, and when they become TRH The Prince and Princess of Wales his father becomes King. I think Diana, Princess of Wales is going have to be Lady Diana Spencer, The Late Princess of Wales.

She was Lady Diana Spencer prior to marrying Charles, became HRH The Princess of Wales upon marriage and Diana, Princess of Wales with divorce. "The" Princess of Wales can only be the wife of the current Prince of Wales.

She was never HRH Princess Diana because she was not born a princess, although often referred to this way by the press and public. The Palace took a relaxed view due to her position as the mother of a future king, but it was always incorrect.

After her divorce, she was no longer a princess or HRH, but simply Lady Diana. Her style, similar to a surname, was Princess of Wales, the same as all divorcees in the peerage, but was no longer a title. She retained the use of this style until she remarried.

The Palace never referred to her as Princess Diana. During the marriage she was HRH The Princess of Wales and after, Diana, Princess of Wales - she was never called Princess Diana because she never was.

I'm sorry but I don't believe that for a second. The Palace makes announcements on behalf of the Queen and they know their own rules. Sorry, but I just don't buy that one.

They did, in fact, state on more than one occasion it was acceptable to refer to her as Princess Diana. I remember someone made a written inquiry and received the reply that anyone who marries the heir to the throne automatically becomes a princess of the UK in her own right.

Now, of course, we know this is not really true in terms of official protocol, but the Sovereign is fount of honour and can decide what to do. Camilla is styled Duchess of Cornwall even though she is Princess of Wales, Alice was permitted to be Princess Alice, even though she never was created a princess of the UK, and Princess Louise of Wessex is called Lady Louise Windsor.

Buckingham Palace never once referred to Diana as Princess Diana and that's what you claimed. If you can show me a statement from the Palace in which they talk about "Princess Diana" then I'll re-think. Diana was a Princess by marriage and was never made a Princess in her own right AFAIK.